Electrical connector tab receptacles



Dec. 22, 1970 w. TEAGNO 3,550,069

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TAB RECEPTACLES' Filed May 27, 1968 INVENTOR WLAOIMIRO TEAGNO FRANCO 'TREVISIOL United States Patent 3,550,069 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TAB RECEPTACLES Wladimiro Teagno and Franco Trevisiol, Turin, Italy,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 27, 1968, Ser. No. 732,446 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 6, 1967, 25,966/66 Int. Cl. H01r 11/22 US. Cl. 339-456 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tab receptacle comprises short turned-in sides and a base provided with spring areas having lateral inwardlydirected spring arms.

This invention relates to electrical connector tab receptacles.

Tab receptacles are well known devices for making releasable connection to terminal tabs which are customarily provided on electrical components to facilitate electrical connection to the components. Terminal tabs generally comprise fiat strips of metal of rectangular section and with straight sides, the section having a major width substantially greater than the minor width to present opposite sides to the post of substantially greater width than the post thickness.

A particularly successful form of tab receptacle based upon the disclosures of British Pat. No. 777,677 and US. Pat. No. 2,774,951 comprises a recpetacle portion of channel-shaped clip form, sides of the channel being rolled inwardly to present edges opposed to the channel base. The base has a central portion elevated to present a platform opposed to the edges and the platform is arcuately bowed transversely of the channel and towards the edges. The platform is laterally slotted. In operation, a tab is resiliently clamped between the edges and the platform, the platform being flattened to effect area contact with one side of the post. The elevation of the platform serves to avoid interference between edges of the post with the rolled sides of the clip at their junction with the base, and the arcuate form of the platform serves to extend the effective length of the springs defined by the side arms and also to provide for improved area contact between the platform and the tab side.

In view of the spring action required, it is necessary to utilize high quality spring metal and also to carefully control the treatment of tthe metal so that the spring action is maintained satisfactorily during extensive periods of service. Due to the rolled nature of the channel sides, a substantial width of material is required for forming the receptacle, compared with the finished width of the receptacle.

Alternative receptacle forms have been proposed which avoid the rolled-in form of the arms. For example, US. patent application Ser. No. 749,892, filed May 2, 1968, discloses a receptacle having channel-shaped clip form of which the sides are merely folded over to clamp the tab between the folded-over portions and the base of the channel. To provide for spring action, the base is provided with a pair of parallel longitudinal slots with the metal between the slots curved longitudinally of the receptacle in convex manner towards the folded-over portions. In operation, the curved portion is flattened against one side of the tab to exert a spring action clamping the other side of the tab against the folded-over portions. The spring extends substantially throughout the length of the receptacle.

In an electrical connector tab receptacle according to the present invention, the receptacle portion is of generally channel form having sides turned in to present side I CC parts opposed to the base of the channel for slidably receiving a tab between the channel base and the turned-in side parts, the base is slotted longitudinally beneath each of the turned-in side parts and lateral slots extend outwards from the longitudinal slots to define base portions projecting inwardly from the sides of the channel, free ends of the base portions being turned up towards respective turned-in side portions.

In operation, a tab is slidably received between the turned-up free end portions and the turned-in side portions, the free end portions being deflected away from the turned-in portions by resilient bending of the base portions. The base portions thus serve as cantilever springs extending laterally of the receptacle from the sides of the base. The springs are short in effective length and for a given deflection are capable of exerting a higher clamping pressure than longer springs of the same characteristics.

In a receptacle of this kind, rolled-in sides of the channel form may be avoided and thus the receptacle may be formed from metal stock of reduced width and with use of less metal than with a receptacle of rolled-in side form. The provision of short lateral spring arms in the base of the receptacle allows the use of metal having a lower coefficient of elasticity than is required where springs of longer effective length are used. It is thus possible to construct a tab receptacle having satisfactory contact pressure from cheaper material, and also to use less material. A substantial economy of manufacture may thus be effected.

The free ends of the lateral springs are suitably turned up generally prependicular to the base of the receptacle to present edge parts opposed to the turned-in portions which extend generally parallel to the base. In operation of such an arrangement, a tab is clamped by the edge parts against the turned-in parts.

In a particular embodiment the sides of the channel are formed with apertures to reduce the stiffness of the turnedin side portions in relation to the turned-up free ends of the base portions and suitably the turned-in side portions are inclined inwardly towards the base. The apertures in the channel sides may extend into the turned-in side portions.

Metal of the receptacle between the longitudinal slots may be formed with a raised portion to engage with a complementary recess in a tab to latch the tab within the receptacle, but this is not essential to the electrical functioning of the receptacle.

An object of the invention is to provide a tab receptacle having springs in the base of short length relative to the length of the receptacle section.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tab receptacle provided with L-shaped inwardly-directed cantilevered springs in a base thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tab receptacle wherein axially-extending slots are formed adjacent a central basal section in a base of a receptacle section and outwardly-directed slots normal to the axiallyextending slots are formed in the base to provide L-shaped cantilevered springs.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a tab receptacle wherein sides of a receptacle section of the tab receptacle are provided with apertures to reduce stiffness of turned-in portions of the sides overlying a base and the turned-in portions are inclined inwardly towards the base.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tab receptacle wherein a base portion of a receptacle section is provided with a raised portion having a dimple for engagement with an indentation of a tab to latch the tab within the receptacle.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a tab receptacle wherein the raised basal portion is free at an inner end and is directed inwardly in an arcuate manner.

Still an additional object of the invention is to provide a tab receptacle that requires less metal to make since the spring arms are shorter than normal, the metal can be cheaper due to shorter spring arms thereby allowing the use of a metal having a lower coefficient of elasticity and close tolerances are unnecessary as a result of the width of a blank being noncritical to the function of the receptacle.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there are shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that these embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tab receptacle according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the receptacle portion of the FIG. 1 receptacle before insertion of a complementary tab;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of the receptacle portion with a complementary tab in position;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the receptacle of FIG. 1 With a complementary tab in position, a forward portion being drawn to a larger scale; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified tab receptacle.

The receptacle of FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a generally channel-shaped receptacle portion 1 having a pair of lateral springs 2 extending inwardly from opposite sides within slots 3 formed in the base 4 of the receptacle. Each spring 2 has an inner end portion 5 which is turned up and spaced laterally from a central portion 6 of the base 4 between the slots 3 to define inwardly-directed L-shaped cantilever springs 2, 5.

The central portion 6 of the base 4 is elevated above the general level of the base of the channel and extends generally parallel with the base 4 at a level below the upper edges of the spring end portions 5, as seen in FIG. 2. This central base portion 6 is formed with a dimple 7 for latching engagement with a tab recess or indentation and serves essentially as a mechanical latching feature for retaining the tab against accidental withdrawal forces. It serves as a structural feature for tieing together and stiffening the forward and rear portions 8, 9 of the receptacle base 4 but does not perform an essential electrical function.

As seen in FIG. 2, turned-in side portions or free ends 10 of the sides 11 of the channel are turned in at a slight inclination towards the base 4. Apertures 12 are formed in respective sides of the receptacle at the fold between the sides 11 and the turned-in side portions 10* so that the turned-in side portions 10 are secured to the associated receptacle sides 11 by narrow strips 13 of metal at each end of the side portions 11.

As seen in FIG. 3, insertion of a complementary tab 14 within the receptacle effects depression of the basal springs 2, 5 and concomitant upward deflection of the turned-in side portions 10 to a condition substantially parallel with the base 4 of the receptacle and into surface-to-surface contact with the upper side or surface of the tab 14.

Leading corners 15 of the turned-in side portions 10 are turned up at a small inclination to facilitate entry of the tab 14 smoothly between the portions 10 and the 4 upper edges of spring end portions 5. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tab 14 is formed centrally of its width with a recess or indentation 16 adapted to engage the dimple 7 on the elevated central base portion 6 in a snap fit.

The receptacle is formed from a sheet metal blank and a wire receiving ferrule 17 of U-section is integral with the receptacle portion at its rear end for securing the receptacle to the wire by crimping.

In operation, the upper edges of the spring end portions 5 urge the tab '14 upwardly against the turned-in side portions 10 of the receptacle and support the lower surface of the tab 14 slightly above the upper surface of the elevated central portion 6 of the base 4. The elevated base portion 6 does serve to resist overstressing of the springs during insertion of the tab in the event the tab 14 is not properly aligned with the receptacle.

The apertures 12 in the side walls of the receptacle facilitate upward deflection of the turned-in side portions 10 by bending of the strips 13. Further upward deflection of the turned-in side portions 10 due to action of the tab 14 and beyond the condition of FIG. 3 will cause pivotal movement of these portions 10 away from surface-tosurface contact with the tab in view of engagement of corners of the tab 14 with the turned-in side portions 10. Such further deflection will in practice require much higher forces than are required for depression of the base springs 2, 5 and thus, by the provision of the apertures 12 tending to weaken the spring action of the turnedin side portions 10, surface-to-surface contact between the turned-in side portions 10 and the upper surface of the tab 14 is more readily achieved.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 which is generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 4, like reference numerals identify similar parts. The apertures 12. of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 are omitted and the elevated central base platform 6 is replaced by a tongue 18 extending rearwardly and upwardly from the forward portion 8 of the base 4. The tongue 18 is formed from the base and is severed from the rear portion 9 of the base 4 so that the springs 2, 5 and the tongue 18 are disposed within a rectangular aperture extending through the width of the base 4.

The tongue 18 at its inner end 19 is arcuately curved inwardly in a widthwise manner so that this end is adapted to engage the underside of an inserted tab and resist its withdrawal from the receptacle.

'It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiments of the invention, which are shown and described herein, are intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

The invention is claimed in accordance with the following:

1. An electrical connector tab receptable comprising a receptable portion of generally channel-form having a base and sides provided with turned-in side parts opposed to the base defining a channel for slidably receiving a tab bet-ween the channel base and the turned-in side parts, the base being slotted longitudinally beneath each of the turned-in side parts, there being a single slot under each of the turned-in side parts extending through a major length of the base, lateral slots extending outwards from each of the two ends of each of the longitudinal slots to define spring base portions with one on each side of the channel projecting inwardly from sides of the channel, and free ends of the spring base portions being turned up towards respective turned-in side parts thereby presenting longitudinal edges opposed to respective turned-in side parts and extending through a major length of the base sides of the channel, the turned-in side parts being generally fiat and each turned-in side part having with the associated side an included angle not greater than a right angle.

2. An electrical connector tab receptacle comprising a tab receptacle portion having a base and sides defining a generally channel form, said sides having turned-in parts presenting side parts opposed to the base of the channel for slidably receiving a tab between the channel base and the turned-in side parts, the base having longitudinal slots to define a pair of generally parallel slots with each of said longitudinal slots extending along a major length of said base and lateral slots extending laterally from each end of the longitudinal slots to define spring base portions, and free ends of the base portions underlying the turned-in side parts being turned up towards respective turned-in side parts thereby presenting longitudinal edges opposed to the respective turned-in side parts and extending along a major length of said base, the turned-in side parts being generally fiat and each turned-in side part having with the associated side an included angle not greater than a right angle.

3. An electrical connector tab receptacle as claimed in claim 2, in which a central part of the base between the longitudinal slots is elevated above the general level of the base with respect to which it extends in generally parallel manner below the upper edges of the turned-up free ends of the base portions, the elevated central portion being integral with forward and rearward parts of the base.

4. An electrical connector tab receptacle as claimed in claim 2 in which sides of the channel are formed with apertures to reduce the stiffness of the turned-in side parts in relation to the turned-up free end portions of the base.

5. An electrical connector tab receptacle comprising a tab receptacle portion having a base and sides defining a generally channel form, said sides having turned-in parts presenting side parts opposed to the base of the channel for slidably receiving a tab between the channel base and the turned-in side parts, the base having longitudinal slots to define a pair of generally parallel slots with each of said longitudinal slots extending along a major length of said base and lateral slots extending laterally from each end of the longitudinal slots to define spring base portions, and free ends of the base portions underlying the turned-in side parts being turned up towards respective turned-in side parts thereby presenting longitudinal edges opposed to the respective turned-in side parts and extending along a major length of said base, a central part of the base between the longitudinal slots being severed at its rear end from a rearward part of the base to define a tongue extending rearwardly from a leading part of the base in upwardly inclined manner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,552,392 5/ 1951 Batcheller 339-256SP 2,791,755 5/1957 Hammell 339258 2,980,878 4/1961 Swengel 339-17L 2,992,404 7/ 1961 Berg 339256SP 3,215,975 11/1965 Kinkaid 339--256SP MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner J. H. McGLYNN, Assistant Examiner 

